Died at 77 from a stroke last week. I hugely enjoyed the Hyperion (and subsequent Endymion) Cantos when I was a bit younger.
Simmons had the ability to write both classically influenced sci-fi fantasy Epic stories, as well as classic horror with a modern twist. I recall reading Children of the Night in the early 90s and thinking: "you know what? As odd as it sounds, it makes sense". The book deals with children that have a rare blood disease that has its origin in Transsylvania. Lovely!
But the Interstellar, time and dimensions spanning Epic Hyperion Cantos are surely my favourite of his writings. It's a classic 'quest' story set in a web of time and space with all sorts of classical references.
Ilium (2003) even uses the classic Greek writings (Homer) as corner stone, Olympus (2005) uses a lot of Shakespeare and Proust.
In never read any of his newer output which seemed to be more politically influenced (very much right wing I understood).
Fond memories on hours and hours of reading him though.
Ah. . Hyperion is often listed very highly in any top lists of the science fiction books.
I still haven't finished it (I think I am about 4 of the 7 'Canterbury tales' into it but got distracted again.